connecting kids to healthy food in montana: a community assessment...

Montana No Kid Hungry

Community Assessment Report 2013

Connecting Kids to Healthy Food in Montana:

A Community Assessment Report

The Montana No Kid Hungry campaign is seeking to better align the work of public agencies and private and nonprofit organizations in

addressing childhood hunger throughout the state.

April 2013

Report prepared by:



For more information on this report, please contact:

Lisa Lee, RD Director, Montana No Kid Hungry

[email protected] P.O. Box 4210

Helena, MT 59620-4210

Website: mt.nokidhungry.org

A special thanks to:

All interviewees that participated in focus groups and one on one interviews for taking the time to share information, their personal stories, and potential solutions.

mailto:[email protected]



Table of Contents Introduction 3

Childhood Hunger in Montana 5

Top Challenges to Addressing Childhood Hunger in Montana 7

Anti-Hunger Work in Montana 10

Barriers to Participating in Food Programs 12

Montana’s Food Deserts 16

Staff and Volunteers: The Face of Food Assistance 20

Opportunities and Ideas for Improving Food Assistance to Kids 22

Appendix A – Sources 24

Appendix B – Representative Sample of Anti-Hunger Efforts 26

in Montana’s Communities

Appendix C – Contributors to Community Assessment 30



Introduction

In January 2012, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) partnered with the national nonprofit Share Our Strength to address the demonstrated problem of childhood hunger in Montana. No Kid Hungry is a national campaign of Share Our Strength that seeks to connect hungry kids with nutritious food and teaches their families how to cook healthy, affordable meals. The goals of Montana’s collaborative No Kid Hungry campaign are to improve access to public and private food and nutrition programs, strengthen community infrastructure and systems to get healthy food to children, and increase outreach to children and families. To support these goals, the No Kid Hungry program embarked on a community assessment of Montana’s childhood hunger interventions. The Montana No Kid Hungry campaign is seeking to better align the work of public agencies and private and nonprofit organizations in addressing childhood hunger throughout the state.

Methodology

The community assessment gathered data on local resources available for addressing childhood hunger in 15 representative communities throughout the state, which include all seven Indian Reservations and the state-recognized Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians (see map below). The assessment sought to understand what is happening on the ground in Montana communities, including where anti-hunger work is occurring, and where gaps may exist. Through a series of community encounters, we found opportunities to improve the understanding and alignment of public agencies and local efforts to address hunger.

In choosing the representative communities for this assessment we considered:

Geographic diversity

Rural and urban areas

Data on food insecurity

Tribal representation

Blue shading indicates Montana’s Indian Reservations. A large member base of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe resides in Great Falls.



The assessment relied on qualitative data gathering and stories from frontline staff working to address childhood hunger in Montana’s local communities. A total of 43 individual people from public, private and nonprofit sectors, and tribal communities, contributed to this assessment (see Appendix C).

Because Montana No Kid Hungry focuses both on childhood hunger and access to affordable, healthy food, our assessment questions addressed both issues.

One on one interviews

We interviewed 19 individuals in 15 communities. Interviewees were asked:

What resources exist in their communities for hungry kids and families.

Where gaps in availability, access and distribution exist.

How well frontline staff are doing in helping connect kids and families to healthy food.

What needs to be addressed in order to eliminate childhood hunger.

Focus groups

We conducted two focus groups: Helena (14 participants) and Great Falls (10 participants).

Focus groups discussed questions similar to the interviews, but the discussions resulted in more depth on ideas for addressing childhood hunger and engaging people in local efforts. Focus groups also served to energize participants and stimulated dialogue among community leaders.

Document review

Prior to conducting interviews or focus groups, we completed a document review on the status of anti-childhood hunger and efforts to combat it in Montana. Our document review informed the development of interview and focus group questions. Please see Appendix A for a list of sources. Our goal was not to re-create or validate existing research, but rather to learn about what is really happening in local communities and where gaps and opportunities exist.

A note on sources: When a source is directly quoted in this report we include a citation in a footnote and in Appendix A. If a source is credited in the narrative, the full citation appears in Appendix A.



Childhood Hunger in Montana Childhood hunger is a documented problem in Montana. Public and private entities have supported efforts to document the prevalence of food insecurity and hunger in the state. We offer some baseline data below as context for this community assessment report.

Childhood hunger is a nationwide problem. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has compiled data showing that one in five children nationwide struggle with hunger.

Montana’s total population is estimated to be just under 975,000.1 Map the Meal Gap, a nationwide study by Feeding America, indicates that almost 145,000 Montanans are food insecure.

The USDA reports that 20.9 percent of Montana’s children struggle with hunger. Montana’s 10 Step Plan to End Childhood Hunger in Montana 2010-2020 reports that 92,000 children in Montana experience hunger and lack of access to nutritious foods at various times each week and month. The plan was created by the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger, which is a collaboration of public and private entities that identified specific steps toward reducing childhood hunger in the state.

Food insecurity and hunger have long-term negative impacts on physical health and academic achievement, which can lead to poor economic indicators for the state. The Feeding America Map the Meal Gap report notes: “Good nutrition, particularly in the first three years of life, is important in establishing a good foundation that has implications for a child's future physical and mental health, academic achievement, and economic productivity.”2

National organizations such as the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and Feeding America have documented the connection between poverty and hunger. The Montana Poverty Report Card for 2011 reported that in 2009, 142,000 Montanans were living in poverty, which is in alignment with Montana’s food insecurity rate according to Feeding America’s statistics.

1 Montana Department of Commerce, Census and Economic Information Center’s Data Release Highlight. 2010. 2 Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap. 2011.

Hunger is “the uneasy or painful sensation caused by a lack of food. The recurrent and involuntary lack of access to food. Hunger may produce malnutrition over time…Hunger…is a potential, although not necessary consequence of food insecurity”

- Feeding America

Food insecurity is “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways”

- Feeding America



Because of the link between poverty and hunger, participation in federally funded food and nutrition programs can be an indicator of hunger and food insecurity. However, Montana’s participation rates do not appear to align with the state’s statistics on hunger or our local findings. This assessment explored this apparent misalignment through discussions with staff and volunteers working locally with families that struggle with hunger, who agreed that many eligible children and families are not enrolled in public food programs.

According to the Montana Food Security Council and Montana Food Bank Network, in 2011:

57% of Montana’s children participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

13% of Montanans received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. About 40% of those were children.

25,500 Montanans received Women Infants and Children (WIC) benefits. Montana WIC estimates that only 40% of those eligible are participating.

According to the Montana Food Bank Network’s Hungry in Montana 2012 Client Hunger Survey Report, in 2011 Montana food banks served over 153,000 different clients with almost 1.3 million visits. Montana food banks saw a 50 percent increase in the amount of child visits between 2009 and 2011. Many assessment participants noted that demand for food bank services is exceeding supply, which may be a better indicator of hunger in the state.

Montana is the fourth largest state in the nation geographically, but the seventh least populated with only 6.8 people per square mile. Many people live in isolated communities and face rough terrain and harsh weather conditions to access food. Children travel long distances to school, and many families live far from grocery stores and food banks. Although Montana has seven Indian Reservations and the state-recognized Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the state is predominantly Caucasian – approximately 90 percent, which is 11 percent higher than the national average. Native Americans comprise 6.4 percent of the population, which is the fifth highest in the nation.

These factors combine to make Montana a uniquely difficult place for children and families that struggle with hunger. This report explores some of the unique challenges Montanans face in accessing food, including isolation which results in transportation issues, cultural resistance, and lack of awareness. The perspectives on these challenges that appear in this report are taken from the voices of those working on the front lines in local communities to connect children and families to food.

Hunger and Access to Healthy Food

The Montana No Kid Hungry program has a dual mission to address basic hunger issues and also to help connect kids to healthy food. Montana No Kid Hungry stakeholders agree that there is an important delineation between hunger and access to healthy food.3 Many of the interviewees and focus group participants for this community assessment conflated these two issues. The overall focus of this report is childhood hunger, which we define as access to any food. However, we also include data where assessment participants combined these two issues.

3 No Kid Hungry Capacity Assessment Next Steps Stakeholder Meeting, Helena, Montana. February 4, 2013.



“There is anonymity in elementary school cafeterias. As kids get older, participants in the free and reduced lunch program stick out more.”

- Gallatin

Top Challenges to Addressing Childhood Hunger in Montana

Food seems to be available to hungry Montanans when they need it. According to the results of this assessment, the top challenges to addressing hunger in Montana are related to helping children and families access the food that is available to them, and coordinating the various efforts to connect families with healthy food.

Stigma

Assessment participants universally agreed that even when free or low cost food is available or families are eligible for federally funded food programs, many do not choose to access the food because doing so would affect their social identity.

For families who avoid public assistance, assessment participants believe that the primary reason is because they don’t believe in “government handouts.” Many have a cultural aversion to accepting free food because they believe they should work for what they have.

Some assessment participants noted that the cultural aversion on Indian Reservations takes a different form. Many Native Americans don’t access free or low cost food or food programs because they believe there are people more needy than they are. People do not want to be a burden on others.

Kids learn that it is shameful to ask for help. Some assessment participants who work in schools observed that many hungry kids are reluctant to participate in school food programs, especially as they get older.

Access

Assessment participants universally agree that transportation is the single most difficult obstacle for hungry families accessing free or low cost food.

Many families living in rural areas do not have their own vehicles. Interviewees from tribal communities observe that many families rely on others to drive them into town to obtain food.

Even in urban areas, public transportation is inadequate. Bus routes are limited and do not consistently accommodate people living in low income areas.

Due to resource constraints, many food banks and pantries face logistical issues that result in reduced

access to free or low cost food. Most food pantries in both rural and urban areas have limited hours, rely on volunteers, and are often located far from the people who access them.

Social science defines “stigma” as a negative social label of disgrace

that affects a person’s social identity.

“We handle emergencies better than persistent need.”

- Glendive

“Without an adequate bus system that truly covers where low income people live – I don’t know how we will solve this problem.”

- Helena



Some food pantries have considered options for helping with transportation, but the cost is prohibitive. For example, Helena Food Share was offered an old bus by the city but chose to not accept the offer due to costs involved with such a resource.

Grocery stores are not consistently accessible in rural areas. Some assessment participants described 40 or 50 mile drives on poor roads from small communities to the nearest grocery store. Such drives can be prohibitive for low income people or those without their own vehicle.

Montana’s Indian Reservations are largely located in rural areas and most reservations have only one or two small grocery stores with nutritionally poor, yet expensive food. As a result, individuals on the reservations rely on convenience stores, whose stock is usually limited to expensive packaged food. The distance from small reservation communities and grocery stores in town is often so great that most of the residents cannot afford to make the trip.

“Paperwork” and Eligibility Requirements

For people accessing federally funded food programs for the first time, the eligibility requirements and amount of paperwork can be overwhelming. Many assessment participants observed that people don’t access programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), or the National Free Lunch Program (NFLP) until they are at the end of their rope and desperate, making the application process more difficult. The paperwork and “red tape” associated with applying for public benefits can deter people from accessing benefits for which they are qualified. Even some community-based food programs require eligibility paperwork that can deter participation.

Paperwork gets lost. Interviewees observed that many families in poverty are in transition, don’t have immediate access to important documents, and can move frequently. Some are homeless, with no permanent mailing address or access to computers. Eligibility for food programs gets lost in the shuffle.

On the other hand, many families struggling with hunger simply do not qualify for federally funded food programs. Assessment participants observed that many working families are just over the income limit for SNAP. Assessment participants described middle to lower-income families “falling through the cracks” in the system.

Lack of Coordination Many assessment participants described a lack of coordination between efforts to connect kids with healthy food. People described each effort as separate. Many interviewees did not know what other efforts existed in their community to address childhood hunger. With some exceptions, few communities have a community-wide forum for addressing hunger issues.

Interviewees in tribal communities observed that there are minimal collaborative efforts to improve the access to healthy food and information about nutrition. Tribal communities face many of the same issues as the rest of the state, but they are exacerbated by cultural differences and other social issues prevalent on Indian Reservations.

“All school meals should be free for children. Eligibility shouldn’t be just tied to income. Many people aren’t eligible but after bills they can’t afford food.”

- Butte

“The issue is connecting people with the resources. Communicating that the resources exist.”

- Billings



Anti-Hunger Work in Montana

Where Anti-Hunger Work is Occurring

This community assessment revealed a sample of the types of anti-hunger work happening in Montana’s local communities. The public sector, nonprofit groups, private entities, and tribal communities are providing services to help connect food insecure kids to healthy food. Please see Appendix B for a list of agencies, organizations and initiatives addressing childhood hunger that were referenced during the assessment.

Public – Receiving federal or state funding

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Head Start

Food Distribution on Indian Reservations Program (FDPIR)

Public Schools

Summer Food Programs

Private – Funded by private enterprise or private donations

Community cooking classes

Community Gardens

Nonprofit – Funded by grants or donations

Boys and Girls Clubs of America

AmeriCorps Volunteers working with Food Corps

Food Pantries/Food Banks

Hospitals

Local Churches

Salvation Army

Rescue Missions

St. Vincent De Paul

Where Collaboration is Happening

Although many assessment participants indicated that lack of collaboration and coordination between anti-hunger efforts is a top issue that must be addressed to eliminate childhood hunger, we noted several examples of effective coordination in local communities:

The Great Falls community has a central hub called Opportunities, Inc., a referral agency that refers clients to different agencies for the services they need.

The Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation has a Regional Nutrition Board that seeks grants for nutrition education programs and summer cooking classes for kids.

In Glendive, the Health Department organizes an informal Healthy Communities Coalition for anyone providing services that promote healthy communities. Food programs participate for the opportunities to network and share information.



Where Families Can Get Free or Low Cost Meals

For children and families that do not qualify or choose not to access federally funded or state funded food programs, Montana’s communities offer free or low cost meals. In most communities, families can access free or inexpensive meals in these locations:

Nonprofit

Local Churches

Salvation Army

Rescue Missions

St. Vincent De Paul

Boys and Girls Clubs of America

Soup kitchens

Private schools

Governmental

Public Schools

Health Department

Interviewees mentioned some specific examples in local communities where children and families could regularly find a free or inexpensive meal. Many of them are operated by churches or faith-based organizations:

Assembly of God Church (Glendive)

The Lord’s Table (Wolf Point)

Community Cooking Connection (Ravalli County)

God’s Love (Helena)

Community Café (Bozeman)

The Mental Health Drop-In Center (Bozeman)

Great Falls Rescue Mission (Great Falls)



Barriers to Participating in Food Programs

Why Income Eligible Families Don’t Access Federal or Community Food Programs

When asked about why individuals or families do not participate in federal or community food programs, most interviewees expressed frustration and a lack of understanding about why people don’t participate. In Montana, individuals and families do not seem to self-identify as non-participants that struggle with hunger. Interviewees and focus group participants theorized, based upon experiences and second or third hand stories about why individuals do not participate. Assessment participants identified four major barriers: accessibility (transportation), awareness about what is available, eligibility and paperwork requirements, and competing social issues on reservations.

Examples of how these barriers appear in communities include:

Transportation For homeless families without a vehicle in Willow Creek, it is difficult and even perceived to be impossible to apply for SNAP, WIC, Section 8 housing, or to access the food bank. There is no bus and it is too far to walk to the nearest food assistance organizations in Bozeman.

Awareness Interviewees from tribal communities expressed a perspective that appeared to be less informed about other anti-hunger work occurring in their own communities than other interviewees. In other words, there appears to be less direct and indirect coordination across programs in tribal communities.

Paperwork The application form and other paperwork requirements for participation in the Free and Reduced Price Lunch program were deterring families from participation in Lame Deer. Eligible kids were not consistently accessing the program. Once the paperwork requirements were eliminated, participation increased.

Other social issues in tribal communities

Tribal communities face many of the same issues as the rest of the state, but they are exacerbated by cultural differences, and other social issues prevalent on Indian Reservations. Interviewees report that tribal children often do not want to complain about hunger because it might trigger attention on their home life, where substance abuse or domestic violence might be occurring.

Tribal governments set priorities and may not prioritize childhood hunger issues. Each tribe addresses food and meals, cultures, beliefs and values differently. Each Indian Reservation has its own tribal government, which may consist of a tribal council, tribal chairman, or tribal business council. The tribal governments make the decisions for all aspects of life on the reservation, from housing construction to which programs operate and activities occur on the reservation. Assessment participants observed that other social and economic issues often take priority over food and nutrition programs.



Gaps in Food Availability & Suggestions for Meeting the Need

Assessment participants consistently reported that food is available for people who need it. This led us to conclude that the gaps in food distribution are related to inconsistent participation (for reasons explored previously in this report), geographic barriers, and lack of awareness.

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

The CACFP is a federally funded program that provides cash reimbursement for serving meals and snacks that meet federal nutrition guidelines to enrolled participants. The Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS) administers the program at the state level. Eligibility for the program includes children age 12 and under, migrant children age 15 and younger, and youths through age 18 in afterschool programs in needy areas.

According to interview participants, there are diverse organizations in Montana that take advantage of the CACFP funding and provide nutritious meals to children. The list of organizations mentioned include: Boys and Girls Clubs, religious organizations, Tribes, Head Starts, and food banks. Services, although varying by location, include meals and snacks during the school year and summertime.

Gap: Inconsistent participation among providers. Even with the diverse group of participants in the CACFP, participation is not consistent within the same organizations across the state. Two interviewees indicated, for example, that the Boys and Girls Club of Billings participates in CACFP, but the Boys and Girls Club in Roosevelt County may not. Additionally, the number of children participating in the program is not consistent statewide, with rural areas having lower participation.

Opportunity: Awareness. To address the gap in participation, interviewees indicated that the CACFP has been trying to increase awareness of the CACFP funding and has encouraged organizations to apply and participate. In Billings, CACFP staff has begun to reach out to established organizations such as the Friendship House of Christian Services for growth and participation suggestions, and to spread awareness of CACFP’s services.

Summer Food Service Program

The Summer Food Service Program is a federally assisted meal program that provides free, nutritious meals and snacks to help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need throughout the summer months when they are not in school.

Gap: Participation. Assessment participants indicated that participation in the Summer Food Service Program is not at the same level as the Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program within the same geographic area.

Gap: Location. Assessment participants indicated that the reason for the drop in participation between the two programs relates to the site selection criteria for the Summer Food Service Program. They observed that the federal requirements are limiting. Rather than being based upon popular or well-traveled locations, the site has to qualify by having at least 50 percent of the children in the area eligible for the Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program. School and census data determine area eligibility.

Opportunity: Location flexibility. If location selection was more flexible, the potential exists to reduce the stigma of participation, reduce transportation-related issues, and increase participation by children.



Food Banks and Pantries

The current state of the Montana food bank and pantry network is diverse, dynamic and cannot be readily inventoried. From well-established to brand new organizations, from solitary warehouses to shared buildings, the resources, services, and eligibility requirements provided by these organizations vary and defy easy categorization.

Gap: Inconsistent food availability. Because food banks and food pantries have varying accommodations, the types of food they can provide vary between locations. Some food banks are able to provide dairy and meat products because they have access to refrigeration. Other local food banks do not have refrigeration and are unable to distribute chilled foods, such as fresh vegetables, meat and milk. For the patrons of the food banks, the gap in facilities leads to an inability to access entire food groups in a healthy and balanced diet, increasing reliance upon packaged and processed food items.

Gap: Geographic coverage. Assessment participants noted that the geographic food bank and pantry coverage is insufficient to address the need within Montana. Due to the rural nature of much of the state, interviewees told stories of patrons traveling across counties, over 40 miles, and across difficult terrain to access food from food banks and pantries.

Gap: Inconsistent eligibility requirements. The eligibility guidelines for accessing food banks and pantries varied across each individual location. For example, in Gallatin County, there are no income guidelines. The food is accessible to anyone who expresses the need. However, other locations have income guidelines such as in Custer County, where the food bank services are for low-income individuals based upon the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) income guidelines via a self-verification system. Additionally, certain food banks have residency eligibility requirements, where the food bank will only serve the immediate community of its location, and not the surrounding areas.

Opportunity: Match funding to current population. One interviewee in Glendive expressed that the funding food banks receive from public and private sources has not kept up with increased population growth. Public and private funders could make funding adjustments based on current populations.

Backpack Program

The Backpack Program provides bags of food to children discreetly on the last day before a weekend or holiday. The purpose of the program is to improve students’ school performance by providing nutritious foods, allowing them to concentrate on their studies, rather than chronic hunger.

According to assessment participants, the Backpack Program (or similar programs under a different name) has a wide reach and has been operating in various locations including: Ravalli County, Sanders County, Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Glendive, Great Falls, and Helena. Based upon the information provided by interviewees, there is not one single organization that coordinates the Backpack Program, but rather a variety of sponsor organizations, including the Montana

Wal-Mart provided $100,000 to $150,000 to Butte to help with the building and funding of a Backpack

Program for three years -Butte

“Our little organizations that have to date served a small community are going through serious growing

pains without the state being quickly responsive.”

- Glendive



Food Bank Network, schools, and private agencies. Additionally, there have been communities that have received support from the private business community for the Backpack Program.

Gap: Participants not using the food. Despite the Backpack Program’s success with food distribution, some interviewees expressed observations that the food is not necessarily getting into the homes and being consumed by participants. In Yellowstone County, an interviewee indicated that the Backpack Program recipients often forget about the items when going home and the interviewee throws away the remaining food items.

Opportunity: Education. Many assessment participants have observed the need for more nutrition education and cooking classes to help families learn how to use the food distributed to them through programs like the Backpack Program.



Montana’s Food Deserts The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines a food desert as “a part of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas. This is largely due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and healthy food providers.”4

The exact qualifications for a food desert have been the subject of numerous policy debates. For this assessment, we discussed with participants the USDA’s classification requiring more than a 10-mile drive to the nearest supermarket in a rural area, and more than a one-mile drive in an urban area. The map below is the USDA Food Desert map for Montana.

USDA Food Desert Map for Montana

According to the USDA’s definition, less than half of Montana’s geographic area is considered a food desert. However, our assessment participants universally agreed that whether you live in a rural or urban area, the entire state of Montana can be perceived to be a food desert by certain demographic groups due to unique factors such as:

Large, unpopulated geographic areas and rough terrain between communities. Montana is the fourth largest state in the nation and the seventh least populated with only 6.8 people per square mile.

A prevalence of very small isolated communities with no grocery stores, schools, or food programs of any kind. Of the 56 counties in Montana, 46 are defined as Frontier.5

Harsh weather conditions. The state is known for long, cold, dark winters where freezing temperatures are common from the beginning of November through June.

Sparse or inadequate public transportation in urban and rural areas.

Extreme poverty and isolation on Indian Reservations. Tribal nations are diverse. Each tribe has unique cultures, languages, histories, and geographic conditions.

4 American Nutrition Association. http://americannutritionassociation.org/newsletter/usda-defines-food-deserts. 2012. 5 Montana Department of Commerce, Census and Economic Information Center’s Data Release Highlight. 2010.

“All of Montana is a food desert.”

-Interviewees and Focus Group Participants



To illustrate some of the unique challenges facing people living in food deserts, we offer two scenarios. The first scenario describes Helena, considered urban in Montana. The challenges around using public transportation and distance to the local food bank mean that many families in Helena live in a food desert. This is representative of other communities included in our assessment, such as Bozeman and Great Falls, where interviewees described similar challenges.

The second scenario describes barriers facing families living on rural Indian Reservations. This scenario focuses on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, where one must travel at least 13 miles and up to 25 miles to the nearest grocery store or food bank from the tribal community of Box Elder.

Helena: an Urban Food Desert

Access to affordable grocery stores and food banks can be difficult, if not impossible, for many individuals, especially those without a vehicle. Locations and limited hours can create significant barriers. In Helena, the food bank is open Monday from 12:30pm-6:30pm and Tuesday through Friday from 12:30pm-3:30pm. An individual with typical 8am – 5pm employment would be able to access to the food bank only on Monday evenings.

Helena Food Share is off the beaten path. Using public transportation to get to the food bank is cost effective with a round-trip cost of $1.70, but is difficult and time consuming. A person or family must walk from their home to the nearest bus stop, ride the bus to the Helena Industries stop, and then walk .3 miles to the food bank and back again. This option could take an individual up to three hours since the bus only stops at a specific time each hour.

The bus system closes at 6pm, which means a person with 8am – 5pm employment would not be able to routinely access the food bank without taking time off work.

The bus route to the Helena Food Share is depicted on the map on the next page. The logistics for using the bus are explained for people living in affordable housing at the Helena Housing Authority and for people staying at God’s Love Homeless Shelter.



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Transit Routes Bus Stops

Checkpoint Stops

Monday - Friday 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Bus Stops Hourly Stop

1. HATS Office (N. Montana) 00.00

2. K-Mart 00:02 3. Good Samaritan & Northgate 00:05

4. Shop-Ko / Albertson ’s North 00:08 5. Target 00:11

6. Murdoch ’s Store 00:13 7. Golden Triangle – south door- 00:20

8. Main St. & 13th St. 00:22

9. Guardian (Sunset Apt.) 00:24

10. Fuller & Placer (Blue Cross) 00:26 11. Basecamp / B&B Market 00:28

12. Safeway 00:32 13. Capital Hil l Mall 00:34

14. City County Health Dept 00:36 15. St. Peters Hosp. –north door- 00:40

16. Wal-Mart (Gen. Merchandise Dr.) 00:47 17. Eagles Manor 00:52

18. Ramey Park 00:54

19. Helena Industries 00:56

Transit Routes

Bus Stops

Starting Location

Helena Food Share

Helena Food Share and Public Transportation

• 32 minute bus ride to the bus stop nearest the food bank.

• .3 mile walk from stop to food bank each way.

• 28 minute ride back to God's Love.

• 2 minute bus ride to bus stop nearest the food bank

• .3 mile walk from stop to food bank each way.

• 58 minute ride back to Housing Authority.

God's Love

Helena Food Share

Helena Housing Authority



Rocky Boy’s Reservation – a Rural Food Desert

Many Indian Reservations have little access to fresh and locally grown produce at a reasonable price. Fresh food is largely unavailable on reservations. For example, on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation only one small grocery store exists, which is expensive and rarely stocks fresh fruit and vegetables.

To access Rocky Boy’s Reservation’s only grocery store, people living in the Box Elder community (home for some assessment participants) must drive at least 13 miles. To purchase fresh fruit and vegetables, someone living in Box Elder must drive at least 25 miles to a discount chain store or local grocery store in Havre (off the reservation). Individuals needing assistance from a food bank would need to drive 25 miles to the food bank in Havre. However, due to increasing demands, each person can receive a food box only once every other month from this food bank. The cost for gas for a 50-mile round trip is greater than most can afford, even if a family has their own vehicle. North Central Montana Transit provides coordinated services with Rocky Boy’s Transit system, however departure times and stops on routes are limited.



Staff and Volunteers: The Face of Food Assistance

Frontline Staff: What works

Most assessment participants agreed that the majority of frontline staff working with children and families are dedicated, good people who are doing this work because they truly care about children and families. Some stories we heard include:

If we had a vehicle, my staff would take WIC benefits door to door. (Fort Belknap)

All the programs work together. Staff are involved in all programs. If there is a TANF family problem, staff will get the family the help they need: family resources, housing, social service, Medicaid, etc. (Rocky Boy’s Reservation)

Public and private work well together in our community. (Miles City)

Frontline Staff: Opportunities for Improvement

While many interviewees and focus group participants were reluctant to offer criticism of frontline staff, some opportunities for improvement were noted.

Many assessment participants expressed that cross-program and cross-sector collaboration are key to improving service delivery. Interviewees observed that staff tend to focus only on their niche and do not often think strategically about how to leverage other programs or efforts.

One interviewee noted that many frontline staff members come from a different generation than their clients. Most staff members are older. This interviewee observed that staff could work to better understand what motivates clients and how to communicate with them via texting and Facebook tools.

Another interviewee expressed that some frontline staff, particularly for public programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), perpetuate the stigma that discourages people from accessing food programs. There is a perception that staff are looking for reasons to sanction families and discontinue benefits. This interviewee believes that many frontline staff may be just a step away from needing assistance themselves.

Volunteerism and Anti-Hunger Work

Volunteerism is inconsistent throughout the communities represented in this assessment. The small sample size for our assessment revealed variances in the way different communities view volunteerism. For example, many of the tribal communities don’t depend on formal volunteerism, but instead value helping family members and neighbors on an informal basis. Interviewees reported that people in tribal communities are constantly helping each other. This is part of the culture. When housing is in short supply, families will double and even triple up in small houses. When food is available, it is shared without question.

“Staff and volunteers rise to the occasion. If they know of someone in need they will give them the shirt off their back. But a lot of this is invisible.”

- Glendive

“On a scale of 1-10 we are a 5. We could be an 8. We aren’t doing a good job meeting people where they are, understanding what’s important to them.”

- Fort Belknap Reservation



Some of the descriptions of volunteerism include:

Volunteerism happens here, there is a spirit of volunteerism that could be harnessed. (Glendive)

People are generous with each other – they share food if they have it. But there is nothing formal. (Fort Belknap Reservation)

Not a lot of volunteering in our town. Everyone wants to be paid. (Rocky Boy’s Reservation)

For the backpack program, it is awesome. Volunteers are asking all the time if they can help with the program. It is not difficult to find volunteers. (Sanders County)

Many programs require recipients to perform volunteer work in exchange for receiving food assistance. Some assessment participants suggested that this could be leveraged to help increase outreach to other families.

Opportunities for increasing volunteerism

Assessment participants noted that where volunteerism exists, many community based organizations like food banks and pantries have a satisfactory level of volunteers to pack and distribute food. But they really need volunteers to find funding opportunities, apply for grants, and manage logistics. A few interviewees mentioned success in coordinating with college organizations, whose students may be able to provide such services as they seek to increase their skills for future employment.

The Helena focus group noted that successful volunteerism is a long-term investment. Many volunteers think of their service as an isolated event. To be effective, volunteers must be engaged in a longer-term commitment.

The Great Falls focus group suggested developing a cadre of qualified volunteers in a community to distribute food, work with children and conduct focus groups with families to find out how best to address persistent hunger.

Opportunities for improving outreach to volunteers

Ideas from the Helena focus group include:

Collaborate with Carroll College, where service learning is part of the core curriculum.

Host a Chamber of Commerce meeting at Gods Love, Food Share or other food program sites. Use the opportunity to educate people and reach out to potential volunteers.

Work with schools, particularly high schools. Engage PTAs, Honor Societies, Key Clubs and other service clubs in schools.

The radio was frequently mentioned as a medium in rural areas (particularly Indian Reservations) for conducting outreach to volunteers as well as communicating with needy families about food programs and opportunities.



Opportunities and Ideas for Improving Food Assistance to Kids Interviewees and focus group participants had a variety of ideas for improving food assistance to kids in Montana’s communities. Many assessment participants expressed that public and private opportunities for assistance exist, but it can be complicated to access the resources. Most food banks and other community initiatives are staffed by volunteers and funded by grants. It is difficult, if not impossible, for volunteers to research funding, apply for grants, and then manage the funds and associated requirements. Many of the ideas below would require a concerted community effort, and in some cases, state-level support to come to fruition.

Work Within the Schools

Increase home school coordinators. There are currently only five in the Title 1 schools. (Great Falls focus group)

Implement a rolling eligibility model for the school meal program. Currently, there is an annual application. (Great Falls focus group)

Provide access to SNAP eligibility information in schools. (Great Falls focus group)

Food assistance programs could pre-weigh and bag food to the $6 food assistance voucher limit to make it simpler for clients. The availability of the pre-weighed bags could be communicated in schools to the kids and to the parents. (Great Falls focus group)

Work collaboratively with PTA’S and Campus Compact. Involve Key Club, Office of Community Service, Honor Club, and AmeriCorps VISTA. (Helena focus group)

Host a community event at the beginning of the school year paired with service learning integrated into the K-12 and college curriculum. (Helena focus group)

Even small rural areas have public schools. The state could fund those schools to provide food programs. (Blackfeet)

Expand the backpack program to older kids. (Glendive)

Serve breakfast on the school buses. This would be especially helpful for rural kids who have long bus rides. (Glendive)

Stop requiring paperwork for the Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program. In Lame Deer, paperwork no longer needs to be filled out for participation in this program. Kids now have access to the program without the paperwork. (Lame Deer)

Address Transportation Barriers

Provide a traveling “food-mobile” similar to a bookmobile to transport groceries to rural areas. (Helena focus group)

Provide a mobile site: remodel a bus with tables to reach the kids. (Great Falls focus group)

A transportation reimbursement could be given to programs or individuals that take food to people who cannot access it themselves. (Lame Deer)

Provide bus transportation that can be used by adults and children to access the grocery store. The bus could have a regular route and run two to three times per week, picking up individuals or families and dropping them off at the grocery store. It would then pick them up an hour or two later. The bus could be cheaply run and possibly supplemented by a grant. (Sanders County)

Establish an internet-driven grocery store, using the model of online produce markets or buying clubs. You make your order online and it is delivered to you. (Gallatin)



Involve the Business Community

Host Chamber of Commerce meetings at local food assistance organizations. Meet at God’s Love or Food Share for monthly get together. This would help educate the business community on the hunger issue. (Helena focus group)

Use tax incentives, low interest building loans or other incentives to entice grocery stores to rural or low-income areas. (Helena focus group)

Sponsor a non-profit agency at cross-town events. (Helena focus group)

Encourage grocery stores to have racks set aside for food banks to distribute food, not just collect it. (Helena)

State-Level Funding and Policy Opportunities

Make funding adjustments to account for increased population and need in high growth areas. Little organizations that have, to date, served a small community are going through serious growing pains without the state being quickly responsive. (Glendive)

Update county websites to link to Child Nutrition Programs and USDA. (Helena focus group)

State program leaders could travel to rural communities and Indian Reservations to observe the reality of daily life. These observations could lead to better decision-making and policy making at the state level. (Fort Belknap Reservation)

Conduct local drives to qualify more families for the federal Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program, which is a qualification for attracting services and assistance to local communities. (Glendive)

Consider launching a campaign similar to the Montana METH Project. (Helena focus group)



Appendix A

Sources

Below is a list of sources used to develop the approach to the community assessment, including identification of representative communities and interview and focus group questions.

Childhood Hunger

Child and Adult Care Food Program, At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program - 2012 statistics. 2012.

Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap - County and State overview for Montana. 2011.

Food Security Council and Montana Food Bank Network, Fact Sheet: Childhood Hunger in Montana. 2011.

Food Security Council of the Montana Food Bank Network, Fact Sheet: Childhood Hunger in Montana. 2010.

House Joint Resolution 8, Study Resolution- Ending Childhood Hunger in Montana. 2011.

Montana Office of Public Instruction, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, and the Montana Food Bank Network, and the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger A 10-Step Plan to End Childhood Hunger in Montana 2010-2020. 2010. (Updated regularly.)

Montana Superintendent of Schools, Office of Public Instruction, and the Food Security Council of the Montana Food Bank Network, Montana Summit to End Childhood Hunger. 2010.

Montana Kids Count, The 2011 Montana Kids Count Data Book. 2011.

Share Our Strength, Teacher’s Report 2012 – Hunger in Our Schools. 2012.

Hunger in Montana

American Nutrition Association. Newsletter: USDA Defines Food Deserts http://americannutritionassociation.org/newsletter/usda-defines-food-deserts. 2012.

Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap - County and State overview for Montana. 2011.

Food Security Council of the Montana Food Bank, Network Hungry in Montana: Factors Contributing to Emergency Food Needs - 2012 Client Hunger Survey. 2012.

Food Security Council of the Montana Food Bank, Hungry in Montana: Factors Contributing to Emergency Food Needs - 2010 Client Hunger Survey. 2010.

Montana Department of Commerce, Census and Economic Information Center’s Data Release Highlight. 2010.

Montana Department of Health and Human Services and Montana State University Extension, Montana Poverty Report Card. 2011.

Montana Food Bank Network, Missing Meals. 2011.

Montana Food Bank Network, Unmet Food Need in Montana Supporting Documentation. 2011.

United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, Montana Food Desert Map. 2012.



Hunger Nationwide

Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap – Overall Executive Summary. 2010.

Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), Hunger and Poverty http://frac.org/reports-and-resources/hunger-and-poverty/. 2013.

United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas. 2013.

Planning Guides

Montana Best Beginnings Community Council, Montana Best Beginnings Community Council Needs Assessment - Planning Document. 2012.

No Kid Hungry Share Our Strength, Summer Meals Content Collection Tool Kit. 2012.

Benefit Programs

Montana Department of Health and Human Services, 2012 MT Work Plan 7/8/2012. 2012.

Public Knowledge, Medicaid Options Study Report Two Prepared for the Wyoming Department of Health. 2012.



Appendix B

Representative Sample of Anti-Hunger Efforts in Montana Communities

Community Type of Organization

Program Name Contact if Available Note

Interviewees - Anti-Hunger Work

Big Horn County Unknown NA Raichell Rone Provide health care for all life cycles

Billings Nonprofit Boys and Girls Club of Yellowstone

Brian Dennis Various locations provide different combinations of breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Billings Faith-Based Friendship House of Christian Services

Georgie Taylor Provides afternoon snacks during the school year and breakfast and snacks in the summer.

Blackfeet Tribe Tribal Entity Blackfeet Tribe Head Start

Pat Calf Boss Ribs Provides breakfast, lunch, and a pm snack 5 days a week to 0-5 year olds.

Butte Educational Institute

Central Services/Butte Elementary

Mark Harrison Provides school nutrition for Butte schools at 11 locations.

Chippewa Cree Tribe

Federal Program Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

Michelle Billy Distribute food packages to qualified individuals.

Fort Belknap Government Program

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Barb Skyoen

Provides nutrition services, referrals to other agencies, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support.

Fort Peck Tribal Entity Fort Peck Tribal Council Project Head Start

Viola Wood Provides children breakfast, lunch, and snack.

Gallatin County Nonprofit Gallatin Valley Food Bank

Lori Christenson Provides food to residents in need of emergency food assistance. Also organizes the Backpack program and summer lunch program.





Glendive Federal Agency AmeriCorps FoodCorps

Anne McHale Does educational programs and knowledge building and encourages sourcing local food for school meal programs.

Great Falls Faith-Based Salvation Army Jeanne Boylard Provides emergency food assistance and food baskets to individuals and families every 60 days.

Helena Nonprofit Rocky Mountain Development Center Head Start (RMDC)

Lin Pasch Serves meals and snacks to preschool aged children. Also provides nutrition education and growth assessments.

Lame Deer Nonprofit Boys and Girls Club of Northern Cheyenne Nation

Emma Harris Organizes two programs focusing on keeping kids in good physical shape and nutrition education.

Miles City Nonprofit Custer County Food Bank

Lynne Weischedel Serves the low income population based upon SNAP/TANF income guidelines.

Ravalli County Educational Institute

Montana State University-Ravalli County Extension

Virginia Chaffin Provides education on nutrition and cooking

Rocky Boy’s Federal Agency AmeriCorps FoodCorps

Teena Thompson Provides nutrition education and works on changing the school lunch menu.

Sanders County Government Entity Sanders County Environmental Health

Beth Rice-Groshong

Organizes the county’s backpack program.

Statewide Government Entity Office of Public Instruction – State Coordinator for Homeless

Heather Denny Works with homeless children enrolled in the homeless program to provide free food, free transportation, and to access additional tutoring.





Additional Programs Doing Anti-Hunger Work. For additional information, the interviewee who mentioned the program is listed.

Ashland Educational Institution

St. Labre Indian School

Emma Harris Program that provides vouchers for fuel, food, and propane.

Big Horn County Nonprofit HRDC Food Distribution Program

Raichell Roan Provides a variety of healthy and nutritious foods on Indian Reservations in Big Horn County

Bozeman Collaborative between nonprofits and faith-based organizations

Community Café Lori Christenson Provides free meals in a restaurant style that anyone can come and enjoy.

Glendive Nonprofit Community Gate Anne McHale The organization works with AmeriCorps volunteers working for Food Corps.

Glendive Nonprofit Action for Eastern Montana

Anne McHale/Lynne Weischedel

Pays for processing and distribution of hunters’ meat to the local food department. Also provides summer lunch program.

Great Falls Faith-Based Great Falls Rescue Mission

Jeanne Boylard Organization provides meals to the local community.

Miles City Faith-Based Miles City LDS Lynne Weischedel Organization provides volunteers to the local soup kitchen and food bank.

Ravalli County Faith-Based Community Cooking Connection

Virginia Chaffin Teenagers and adults come together to provide weekly meals at a local church.

Rocky Boy’s Regional Nutrition Board

Michelle Billy Organization obtains grants for food related activities, such as youth cooking camps.





Statewide Community Gardens

Teena Thompson Community garden services vary by location, but some make donations to senior centers and food pantries.

Wolf Point Faith-Based Lords Table Viola Woods Provides meals to adults and children.



Appendix C

Contributors to Community Assessment Report

1. Michelle Billy, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Chippewa Cree Tribe 2. Michael Boman, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations Helena 3. Jeanne Boylard, Salvation Army-Great Falls 4. Pat Calf Boss Ribs, Blackfeet Tribe Head Start 5. Virginia Chaffin, Nutrition Educator, Ravalli Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

6. Lori Christenson, Gallatin Valley Food Bank and Backpack Program 7. Diane Deiter-Sibert, Cascade County Office of Public Assistance 8. Brian Dennis, Boys and Girls Club of Yellowstone 9. Heather Denny, State Coordinator for the Homeless, Office of Public Instruction 10. Cassandra Drynan, Chair, Action for Healthy Kids Group 11. Susan Duncan, Family Promise Program Helena 12. Mary Ellen Earnhardt, 21st Century Community Learning Center, Office of Public Instruction 13. Gayle Gifford, Great Falls Community Food Bank 14. Emma Harris, Assistant Director, Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Cheyenne Nation 15. Mark Harrison, Director of Central Services, Butte Elementary School 16. Traci Hronek, Community Gardens 17. Jo-Viviane Jones, WIC Supervisor, Cascade City County Health Department 18. Erin Keefe, Pediatrician, Helena Pediatric Clinic; Board Member, Helena Food Share 19. Jim Kizer, Great Falls Rescue Mission 20. Lisa Lee, Montana No Kid Hungry Department of Public Health and Human Services 21. Anne McHale, Food Corps Glendive 22. Lin Pasch, Dietitian, Rocky Mountain Development Center Head Start 23. Kim Pillen, Helena Food Share 24. Tara Ray, Office of Public Instruction School Nutrition 25. Melanie Reynolds, County Health Department Lewis and Clark County 26. Beth Rice-Groshong, Backpack Program, Sanders County Environmental Health 27. Raichell Roan, Dietary Manager, Big Horn County Hospital 28. Joan Schmidt, Montana School Board, Montana Association of Churches 29. Jessi Sheava, Montana No Kid Hungry Department of Public Health and Human Services 30. Sonja Smith, Boys and Girls Club Great Falls 31. Barb Skyoen, WIC-Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes, Fort Belknap Reservation 32. Jennifer Spellman, Director, School Nutrition Services and Warehouse Great Falls 33. Maghan Strachan, Lewis and Clark County Office of Public Assistance 34. Georgie Taylor, Friendship House of Christian Services-Billings 35. Alicia Thompson, Cascade City-County Health Department 36. Teena Thompson, Rocky Boy’s Food Corps 37. Vicki Van Meter, Supervisor, Lewis and Clark County Office of Public Assistance 38. Ann Waickman, Helena Food Share 39. Lynne Weischedel, Custer County Food Bank 40. Viola Wood, Fort Peck Tribal Council Project Head Start 41. Joe Wooton, God’s Love Helena 42. Robert Worthy, Helena Food Service 43. Mandi Zanto, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program Helena 44. Liese Zebrun-Gero, School Age Child Care (SACC) Program Helena



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